First Day Of Kindergarten

Gracie has been looking forward to kindergarten for well over a year. Last year she looked on longingly while her cousins boarded the school bus and begged me to let her just got to kindergarten now.  She didn't need pre-school for another year. She was ready now! Much of our year was spent thinking about, talking about, dreaming about and preparing for kindergarten.  Once she went to kindergarten visit day in June the excitement really ramped up. It was all she could talk about all summer.  We did work sheets, work books, played counting games, letter games, all at Gracie's insistence since "there is so much I don't know mom".  In the last week she has woken me up at 4:30 EVERY morning with the kindergarten countdown.  To be honest, I was a little worried that the first day could never live up to her expectations since they were sky high but I was wrong. The day was magical.  She woke up at 4:30, came bouncing onto my bed and yelled "It's here, my special day! I'm going to kindergarten!!!!" She wanted to get dressed right then but I talked her out of it.  We packed her lunch, did her hair and then made cinnamon rolls and bacon and the cousins and auntie and uncle came over for a special first day of school breakfast, 

After breakfast she put on her new dress that Auntie Amy sent for the first day. Actually, my 18 year old nephew Nate picked out the dress. He really knows his cousin because it was perfect for her. She told me this morning "Tell Auntie Amy my dress is perfection!"

The coveted Anna and Elsa Frozen backpack from Auntie Kate.

 Then we headed out for pictures with the cousins and to wait for the school bus.

Grace wanted me to come to school the first morning and walk her to her classroom but she was dying to take the bus. So I got her on the bus and then met her at the school.

This is her arriving at the school.  I don't know that any picture can truly do the moment justice but she was exploding with joy. When she got off the bus she said "Mom, that bus ride was the best thing that ever happened in my whole entire life!"

She was a little hesitant as we walked down the hallway to her class and she asked to hold my hand. I kissed her hand and told her that she was going to be great at kindergarten! She proudly announced her name to the teachers aid who checked her in and then we went in and saw her teacher. She knows the teacher because cousin Jake had her and so she was very comfortable. We hung up her backpack, got our her pencil box and she sat down to color. She gave me a kiss and a big smile and off I went.

I have to say that while I didn't cry, I was very weepy. I was surprised at how emotional I felt,  Maybe it's because she is my first and only child to go to school. Maybe it's the realization of my baby becoming a big girl. Whatever it is, I felt it hard but it was mixed with lots of pride and love and the knowledge that my job was to make her feel ready to go and she did!

When she got home she called me and announced that riding the bus is awesome, they had rest time but she did not take a nap because she is not a baby, she had lunch with a new friend whose name she can't remember and they said the pledge of allegiance and sang 5 little monkeys. She said "School is amazing mom!"  She  goes full day and 5 days a week and when I got home she was exhausted and asked me to put her to bed at 7:00p,m.  When I kissed her good night she said "Mom, tomorrow I want to buy lunch. I am so, so happy I get to go to school again tomorrow!" I don't think it could have gone ay better.